Israeli Finance Minister Calls for War in West Bank, Annexation of Territories

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for a military operation in the West Bank, which he referred to as Judea and Samaria, to eliminate what he described as terrorist infrastructure and dismantle the Palestinian Authority. Speaking on a Ynet podcast on September 27, 2026, Smotrich stated, "I think we need to start a war in Judea and Samaria to do there what we did in Gaza," emphasizing that no terrorists, weapons, or tunnels should remain in the region.

Smotrich also advocated for the annexation of Israeli-controlled territories in Gaza and southern Lebanon. He proposed that Israel should consider establishing its border in Gaza up to the "yellow line" and in Lebanon up to the Litani River. According to the minister, these actions would force Israel's adversaries to "pay the price" for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and the subsequent war.

This is not the first time Smotrich has voiced such opinions; he has consistently supported expanding Israeli control over the West Bank and rebuilding settlements in Gaza. His proposals have historically generated international controversy, with Lebanon, for instance, opposing the continued presence of Israeli troops on its territory.